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Advisory Committee, December 11, 2008 ADVISORY COMMITTEE December 11, 2008 7 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Dick Cook, Chair, Lisa Fenton, Vice-Chair, Constantine Constantinides, Scott Roberts, Anthony Antoniello, Maura Curran, Tony Villani, Bob DeLorenzo ALSO PRESENT: Rick Agnew, Town Administrator BOARD OF SELECTMEN PRESENT: Joe Norton 1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Mr. Cook called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. at Scituate Town Library. 2. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: On a MOTION by Mr. Constantinides, SECONDED by Ms. Curran, the agenda was accepted as amended by unanimous vote (8-0). 3. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: On a MOTION by Mr. Roberts, SECONDED by Ms. Fenton the minutes from 11.06.08 were approved as written by unanimous vote (8-0). On a MOTION by Mr. Roberts, SECONDED by Mr. DeLorenzo the minutes from 11.20.08 were approved as amended (7-0) with one abstention. 4. Review and confirm Budgets • Mr. Agnew prefaced by saying 2010 is going to be very lean year. Looking at budgeting state aid down by 10%, other assistance down 10% and chapter 70 down 5%. • It was reported that the Financial Forecast Committee met and spent a lot of time on the budget for 2010. Mr. Anthony Vegnani is working on spreadsheet that will be ready shortly. Department heads were instructed to level fund their budgets. Schools have already settled next year’s contracts. No contracts settled for next year’s Town contracts. Department heads were instructed not to include new positions or increases in hours for current positions. Budget-141/Assessors • Mr. Agnew and Mr. Steve Jarbowski updated the Committee on the Assessor’s budget. • Increase in budget is due to contractual reasons. Assessed numbers based on values of property sales from one year ago (The 2007 Real Estate market.) • The committee was told the Public will be educated with an insert in their tax bill. • Mr. Villaini asked Mr. Agnew about software maintenance and if it would go up. Mr. Agnew said that some things would but then other things would have to go down. Opinion was that the maintenance would probably kick in during 11, not 10. • Mr. Antonelli asked about the AMP contracts. • Mr. Constantinides had training, dues and subscription questions. Mr. Jarbowski said it was usually for one day training. • Mr. DeLorenzo asked about dramatic rise in postage. Ms. Mary Gallagher answered and said it had not been previously attributed to the Assessors office. On a MOTION by Mr. Roberts , SECONDED by Ms. Fenton Budget-141 for $183,513 was approved by unanimous vote. Budget 171/Conservation • Mr. Vinny Kalishes and Mr. Agnew addressed the Committee on the Conservation budget. Mr. Agnew stated the increase of $4,000 was due to contractual salaries. Technical services account for difference between Mr. Agnew’s budget and Conservation. The budget is up 2%. • Mr. Kalishes updated the Committee on the function of the Conservation Department. • Mr. Constantinides asked about overtime expenses and wanted an explanation of the other salaries line item on the budget. Ms. Gallagher attributed it to the 1% contribution to deferred compensation. • MACC membership is primarily responsible for the dues line item in the budget. • Mr. DeLorenzo asked about the flood plain mailing and was told it is done twice a year as required. • Discussion took place on the consistency of the Purchase of Service line. • Mileage went up to .40/mile which is up from previous year • Software package was settled on. (Full Circle Technologies) • Pictography is due in. On a MOTION by Mr. Roberts, SECONDED by Ms. Curran Budget-171 for $120,882 was approved by unanimous vote. Budget-650/Beautification • Ms. Donna Bangert, Acting Chair and Mr. Agnew presented the Beautification Budget. Ms. Fenton introduced Ms. Bangert and thanked Ms. Barbara Sullivan for her service. Ms. Bangert began her role by adopting new goals and policies. A new mission statement was read at this meeting. The 2010 Mr. Budget has a 3% increase for the landscaping contract and postage increase. • Ms. Bangert spoke on the WindowBox program. The goal is to include all Harbor merchants and to expand to all commercial areas of the Town. • The Railroad Island Program was described. The islands were designed and planted by Kennedy’s. It cost $20,000 to plant and irrigate those. The funds came from litigation money. • Morse Contract has never been bid out. It was suggested that it may be time to re-evaluate service providers. • Wish list by Ms. Fenton presented: o Professionally trained landscape architect as a Chair. o A convenient source of water. • Mr. Villani says he would strike this budget if it comes down to someone’s job. Mr. Agnew said he would not get any support for this. He said the makeup of the Town is not just… public safety. Recreation and beautification are examples of things that add a lot of value to the town. On a MOTION by Mr. Roberts, SECONDED by Ms. Fenton, Budget-650 for $16,200 was approved by unanimous vote (8-0). Budget-122/ Selectmen • There were salary increases for secretaries. • Training fee is for annual meeting. • Dues are for the Mass Municipal Association. • Questioned on postage increase • Mr. Antoniello asked about the litigation line item and is told it is public record • Mr. Constantinides asked if there are there pending cases? Is told that there are.
Budget-123/ Administrator • Mr. Agnew said they kept budget level funded. On a MOTION by Mr. Roberts and SECONDED by Ms. Fenton, Budget-123 for $225,680 was approved by unanimous vote (8-0). Budget-149/ Administration • Mr. Agnew said the budget is level funded. Mr. Agnew explained the line items. The technical services line item is for the Town’s audit. • Mr. Constantinides wanted to know what subscriptions were. • Mr. Villani wanted to know about Telecom charges and where calls were being made and was told mostly within Massachusetts.
On a MOTION by Contantinides, SECONDED by Ms. Fenton Budget-149 for $106,190 as amended is approved (7-1). Budget-549/Commission on Disabilities • Must have money in this budget to be eligible for getting certain grants
6. SCHEDULE • Budgets for Next week: o Clerk o Inspections o Recreation o Accountant (Mr. Roberts set meeting up with Mr. Agnew for Friday morning to re-work the calendar)
• Ms. Fenton explained how Advisory Committee’s job is to thoroughly review budgets. • Mr. Cook stated the Committee’s frustration that they have not had influence. The way to get things done is to raise concerns along the way. so the Town has already implemented the changes upfront before Town Meeting. • The Committee’s Template is important to go to selectmen before they vote – all agree. • The report is now complete. Liaisons responsible for finalizing the sheet. The final sheet will then go to the BOS before they vote. • Mr. Cook also mentioned that the Advisory Committee will also vote on the entire budget one last time before On a MOTION by Mr. Roberts, SECONDED by Ms. Fenton the Committee will review and then vote on the budgets at the same time. On a MOTION by Mr. Roberts, SECONDED by Ms. Fenton, the Committee will vote prior to the Board of Selectmen was approved (6-2). 8. CPC PROJECT UPDATE • 13 projects being heard this year • being voted on 26th of January • Brief overview • 3 categories: open space/historical preservation/affordable housing • will go into detail in near future
• Mr. Villani provided the update. He said the Cherry Sheet will go down 10%. • Lottery number could not be agreed upon. • January 7th is next meeting
NEW BUSINESS - Ms. Curran requested Debt and Interest historical file from Mr. Cook On a MOTION by Mr. Constantinides and SECONDED by Mr. DeLorenzo the meeting was adjourned at 10:05 pm. Respectfully submitted by Heather Dwyer
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